Antwerp cathedral climbing stunt sparks police investigation

Antwerp (Brussels Morning) – Police investigate two Germans who climbed Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal. They performed stunts atop the 123-meter spire. The YouTube video prompts concerns over structural damage and the potential for copycat incidents.

Did Two Germans Illegally Climb Antwerp’s Iconic Cathedral?

Antwerp police have unlocked an investigation after a video appeared of two Germans climbing on top of Antwerp’s iconic Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, the biggest church in Belgium.

The attention-grabbing videotape, currently airing on YouTube, shows a pair of dare-devils illegally penetrating the Cathedral and climbing the steep, little stairs of the cathedral tower.

They then drove the final ascent to the spire’s weathervane, situated 123 metres above base level, where they acted acrobatic stunts and hazardous high-altitude antics.

In the video, which lasts almost 25 minutes in total, the daredevils ask the viewers a question. “ We want to enjoy the sunshine at the Great Cathedral of Belgium ?!” Loosely translated, the question is whether they will manage to get to the spire of the cathedral at sunrise. So yes.

How Did Antwerp Police React to the Climbing Video?

The local police have also witnessed the video and are working to confirm the authenticity of the video and to identify the essential players behind the incident. “Whilst no suspects have yet come to light, our investigation is in full swing,” stated Bastiaens of the Antwerp Police.

“We have commissioned a technical firm to assess whether the stunt has resulted in any structural damage to either the building or the spire. We will document and analyse this comprehensively.” Meanwhile, experts are analysing structural changes that are needed to stop this from happening again.

“We are indeed aware of the video. The local police have started an investigation into both the action and the people responsible for it,” says spokeswoman Lauranne Van Dongen at the office of Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA).

Are Structural Assessments Underway After Cathedral Climbing Stunt?

The cathedral houses several significant works of art, including several paintings by Peter Paul Rubens. The ground floor where these are uncovered is therefore equipped with a warning system. However, it did not go off, indicating the suspects definitely could not have penetrated through this floor. “They must have entered at a higher level,” the church’s priest Bart Paepen said. “So there was never any threat to the works of art.”

How Did Social Media React to the Cathedral Climbing Video?

Both Paepen and many YouTube users condemn the pair for climbing the historic structure. “This is not reliable behaviour, and I hope no one is inspired by the sensation on social media to try something similar,” Paepen said. “One day it will go wrong.”

Why Did Climbers Target Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal for Stunts?

The reckless approach of unlawfully climbing tall, renowned buildings is a tendency that proliferated in the United States and Russia. The people climbing these structures often film the deed, as the videos are often heavily regarded on social media. The YouTube page of the German pair offers them regularly climbing tall constructions. Under their video, they add a notice to viewers not to ‘imitate the stunts’.